April 19, 2008

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - Xavier Scruggs hit a trio of home runs, the final one a two-run shot that tied it in the bottom of the ninth, and UNLV baseball went on to stun San Diego State, 19-18, on a wild Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

Following Scruggs' two-run shot that tied things at 16, Rebel sophomore Jarred Frierson hit a two-run home run to right that tied it, and then J.J. Sferra hit a game-winning single. With winds blowing out constantly at 20-30 M.P.H., the 503 fans in attendance saw the two teams combine for 37 runs on 48 hits, including nine home runs.

"It felt like I got all three pretty good today," Scruggs said. "In the ninth I was just hoping that everyone in front of me would do their job and give me a chance to come up to the plate."

UNLV improved to 17-20 on the year and 6-8 in Mountain West Conference games, while SDSU dropped to 23-16 and 10-4 in league games. Despite giving up six runs, Rebel reliever Adam Moser earned the win, moving to 5-4 on the year while Jon Berger (2-5) took the loss, as he gave up the three runs in the bottom for the Aztecs.

Scruggs finished the game with a career-high eight RBI on the trip of round trippers, as he hit three runs shots in the first and eighth innings. It was part of a six-home run attack for UNLV, which also got dingers from Michael Brenly, Rance Roundy and Frierson. The three home runs marks the second time this season that Scruggs has hit that many in a single game, as he drilled three against Maine on March 1.

"Our team showed a lot of character in coming back the way they did," UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. "Scruggs is someone who has been so good for so long this year, and he has such great plate discipline and pitch recognition."

UNLV needed every bit of offense it could get though, as the San Diego State had lead of 8-4, 12-6 and then 16-10 heading into the bottom of the ninth after scoring four runs in the top half.

But the Rebels would not go quietly, as they knotted the game by scoring six unearned runs to send the game into extra innings. The 19 runs were the second most that UNLV has scored in a game and the 23 hits is a season high.

Roundy and Frierson each had four hits on the day, while Scruggs and Jesse Wight each collected three for the Rebels. Nick Romero lead the Aztecs with three hits, including a home run, and four RBI.

UNLV finishes its series with San Diego State tomorrow, as the two teams will play again at 1:00 p.m. (PDT), with the game being carried live by 1400 KSPH AM.